Arrangement on ice-skating ice



Oct. 7, 1969 J. LUVG REN ARRANGEMENT ON ICE-SKATING ICE Filed July 19, 1966 INVENTOR. Ja mes Lovg ran a,

mo g

United States Patent 3,471,216 ARRANGEMENT ON ICE-SKATING ICE James Liivgren, Skanorvagen 6, Johanneshov, Sweden Filed July 19, 1966, Ser. No. 566,709 Int. Cl. G031) 21/60 U.S. Cl. 350-117 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An ice-skating surface for a skating rink or hall wherein the ice layer, constituting a skating surface, has a lightimpervious, light-reflecting layer capable of serving as a projection screen, embedded in it or located below it whereby pictures can be projected from above and through the ice layer and onto said reflective surface.

This invention relates to an arrangement on ice-skating ice and more particularly to an arrangement especially useful when a picture or pictures shall be projected onto the ice from a projector placed above the ice-skating ice, such as for example on the inside of the roof of an ice-skating rink or hall.

Efforts have been made in order to project light-pictures onto the ice, especially artificial ice in sporthalls or the like, but failed because of the fact that the ice absorbs the picture in such an extent that only a fuzzy picture can be seen.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sharp picture with bright colours.

It is another object of the invention to use the projected picture for advertising purposes.

Other features and other objects of the present invention will be apprehended as the detailed description thereof proceeds in the light of the annexed claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing wherein illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown and in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention and in which the reflective layer is located in the ice and below the upper surface thereof, and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention in which the reflective layer is placed onto the bottom or floor of the ice-skating rink.

As described before an object of the present invention is to provide a picture on ice-skating ice, projected by a motion picture or still picture projector placed above the ice, for example on the inside of the roof or the ceiling, which picture has bright colours and very easily can be seen by the audience or public in the sporthall or rink and looking at the ice.

This object is achieved by the fact that the ice under the upper surface has a layer of colour pigment or pigments, and thus such a layer reflects the light of the picture projected by the projector.

The colour layer is of such a colour compound or compounds that it does not in any way affect the upper surface of the ice intended for ice-skating.

The composition of the colour layer is varied to meet different requirements. However, it is convenient to use a white reflecting pigment such as white lime. The white lime can preferably be mixed with silver-bronze. In some cases it is even suitable to use just silver-bronze.

In an artificial ice-skating rink where the ice has direct contact with the freezing pipes or tubes, this ice has a thickness of 6-8 centimeters. In such a case it is convenient to arrange the colour layer in a central plane of the ice, that is the colour layer should be about 3-5 centimeters below the upper surface of the ice.

3,471,216 Patented Oct. 7, 1969 According to another way of embodiment the colour layer is arranged on the lower surface of the ice that is on the underside of the ice. Even in this case the layer should not be more than approximately 5 centimeters under the surface of the ice.

It is however recommended that the colour layer is arranged as close to the upper surface of the ice as possible, but stiff not affecting the upper surface of the ice-skating ice.

In FIG. 1 is shown an artificial ice layer, the freezing piping or tubes not being shown. The ice consists of a lower or bottom layer 1, which may have a thickness of about 3 cm. Upon the top of the layer 1 is the reflective layer 2. The reflective layer 2 may be spread over the surface of the bottom ice layer 1 by means of a nozzle or the like. Upon said reflective layer 2 is laid another ice layer, a top layer 3 which may have a thickness of about 3 cm. It is obvious that one or more of the reflective layers 2 may be embedded in the ice layer.

According to another embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 2, the reflective layer 2 can be arranged at the lower surface of the ice layer 3 such as, for example, on a supporting floor or other surface 4 on which the ice is formed. The supporting surface 4 may be the bottom of an ice-skating rink 5. In any case the reflective layer should not be more than approximately 5 cm. below the surface of the ice, and it is preferred to arrange the reflective layer as close to the surface as possible Without affecting the skating surface of the ice.

The projection of the pictures onto the upper surface of the ice or onto the colour layer from the projector of motion picture or still picture type 10 that is located above the ice and is adapted to project pictures downwardly onto the screen is primarily meant to be done in pauses during matches and at other similar occasions but naturally nothing prevents it being shown and done on other occasions.

It is possible to choose colour pigment or pigments not mentioned in the description without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A projection arrangement including a projection screen comprising the ice on the base of an ice-skating surface; a layer of pigment having diffuse light-reflecting properties embedded in the ice layer substantially parallel to the upper surface thereof, and a projector mounted above the ice and adapted to project pictures downwardly onto said screen, whereby the projected pictures are reflected by the pigment layer and are visible to an audience.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,260,221 3/ 1918 McCormick. 1,446,266 2/ 1923 Murray. 1,450,864 4/1923 Peck 350-117 1,711,897 5/1929 Madison 350 -117 1,891,849 12/1932 Suzuki. 1,950,481 3/1934 Castello 352-40 1,918,437 7/1933 Torrance 272-3 2,587,855 3/1952 Johnson 272 -3 3,218,923 11/1965 Ciofani 350126 FOREIGN PATENTS 168,429 9/ 1959 Sweden.

JULIA E. COINER, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 272-3; 352 

